Previewing the five most crucial Toronto Raptors’ games of December

Dec. 12- Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors

Key matchup: Raptors’ bigs and Kevin Durant

Having played to close out the month of November for the Raptors, the two conference’s elite teams are close.

No, not in proximity as the Raptors play across the border, rather the two are close in skill. In the two teams’ lone matchup, it took an extra period for the hosting Raptors to finally take the victory.

In the game, Leonard led the team with a 37 point, eight rebound effort.

However, his counterpart, Kevin Durant made headlines with a 51-point effort with 11 rebounds and six assists with a lone turnover. The half-century scoring mark was the third of the year for the Warriors, with one apiece for Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson respectively.

With Curry out due to injury, the Warriors were forced to rely on their forward to shoulder the load. In the second iteration, Curry will be back, forcing the Raptors to focus on three deadly scorers as opposed to the pair. Therein lies the matchup of the Raptors’ big men and Durant.

In the first matchup, both led their teams in scoring and rebounding. In the second matchup, limiting Durant’s effectiveness on the boards will pay off.

The Warriors, known for initiating the true small ball phase of the 3-point era, rarely rely on a true center. In turn, both Durant and Draymond Green are relied upon to scoop up loose balls off the glass, leading the rebounding charge for the reigning NBA champs.

Installing Ibaka and Valanciunas in spurts could mitigate that success. Valanciunas, in the teams’ first contest, played only 15 of a possible 60 minutes. Raising that number, though a counter to the teams’ small ball ways in the first matchup could pay off.

No, Valanciunas would not aid a defense that gave up 128 points in the first matchup, but he would provide relief along the boards. In his career, the Lithuanian big man has posted 12.1 rebounds per 36 minutes with a 13.7 mark this year. Those marks best anyone on the Warriors roster and would likely disable Durant’s success on the boards.

Much the way the Memphis Grizzlies have countered the Warriors in seasons’ past, the big man has crushed the Warriors. Though many teams counter with their own small-ball lineup, the Grizzlies chose to slow the game down, running the ball through their bigs. With Siakam and Valanciunas or Ibaka, the Raptors could do the same.